The History of East Ham Grammar School

Part 31905-1972

Capt EK Myles VC

• The sad story of a brave East London man.

• Edgar Kinghorn Miles was born in July 1894 in East Ham. As a boy he moved with his family to Blake Hall Crescent, Wanstead. He went to East Ham Council School, Shrewsbury Rd and thence to East Ham Technical College, which, some years later became East Ham Grammar School. The School opened in 1905, when he was 11 and it's therefore likely that he was in the first entry year. After School, around 1910 I guess, he became a Clerk for the Port of London Authority.

• On 20 August 1914 he enlisted as a private in the 9th Bn. Worcs. Regt. In November of that year he was commissioned as a temporary 2nd Lt. and became a Capt in 1917. He served in Gallipoli from August 1915 to January 1916 before being transferred to Mesopitania in March 1916. He stayed there until April 1918.

• He saw action, was twice wounded and was present at the attempted Relief of Kut. On 9th April 1916 at Sanni-I-Yat, Mesopitania, now in Iraq, he was awarded a VC:

• "For most conspicuous bravery. He went out alone on several occasions in front of our advanced trenches and, under heavy rifle fire, and at great personal risk, assisted wounded men lying in the open. On one occasion he carried in a wounded officer to a place of safety under circumstances of great danger".

• On 25 January 1917 at Kut-al-Amara, Mesopitania he gained a DSO. The recommendation for DSO was originally intended to be for a second VC, but Lt Gen. Sir S Maud, GOC Troops at Kut did not want to set a precedent - a double VC was unknown at the time. The citation reads:

"When all the officers except two had become casualties, he, for five hours, inspired confidence in the defence against two counter-attacks also sending back most accurate and valuable reports of the situation. His courage and fine example were largely responsible for the steadiness of all ranks with him".

• He stayed in the Army until March 1928, having gained other medals - all are now in the Worcs. Regimental Museum. What happened to him after that I don't know but, in 1939, he became an Air Raid Warden in Leyton and then Islington. He rejoined the Army in April 1939 but was retired in January 1940, when he was about 46 years old. He married in 1947 at Hatfield when he was 53 or so.

• It’s not sure what happened next, but years later he was found destitute living in a converted railway carriage accompanied only by a dog. He was admitted to the Huntley Royal British Legion Home in Bishopsteighton, Devon where he died aged 82 in early 1977. He was cremated and his ashes scattered. There is no memorial tablet. RIP.

Rugby 1st XV 1945-46

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Rugby 1st XV 1946-47

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School Play: Henry 4th Pt 1, in late 1944 or early 1945

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Prefects 1946

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Prefects 1947

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1949 Science 6(ii). Teachers: Forrester S, Forrester B, Marsh, Paine and Amstell

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Prefects 1950

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Athletics. Russell Cup Team 1950

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Rugby 1st XV 1952-53

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OEs Rugby XVs 1955

The End